Russia on September 14 kicked off a week of war games with ally Belarus that have NATO neighbors and the United States watching anxiously, but also allowed Moscow to flex its muscles against one of its primary fears — possible political fissures in the Kremlin’s own orbit.
Moments after Russia’s Defense Ministry said the exercises dubbed “Zapad,” or “West,” had begun, it announced that elements of its First Tank Army had been “put on alert” and moved into Belarus for the exercise. Airborne units stationed in Russia also were mobilized and prepared to join the drills, the ministry said.
